A dynamic selection of Linton Kwesi Johnson's most powerful prose writings, brought together for the first time.
LINTON KWESI JOHNSON, born in 1952, is a Jamaican-born reggae poet who came to the UK in 1963. Joining the Black Panthers whilst still at school, he has been a life-long activist fighting for racial equality and social justice. In 2002 he became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. He has recorded several albums, many on his own LKJ Records label, and has toured the globe. His most recent awards include the 2020 PEN Pinter Prize from English PEN and, in 2021, being appointed an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of the West Indies. LKJ lives in Brixton in south London.
Linton Kwesi Johnson brought the aural poetry of Jamaican speech to
'H'england' and captured it in verse. He contributed a sharp and
still relevant analysis of class dynamics to our literature. Oh,
and he also made music from words. Thank you, Linton!
*Zadie Smith*
An outstanding collection which speaks to the extraordinary
achievement of the voice of my generation. Like all great artists,
Linton Kwesi Johnson wasn't called - he simply arrived. For his
time, and for the ages.
*Caryl Phillips*
LKJ provided the soundtrack to my youth but these writings are more
than nostalgic. Written with humility and generosity, this mosaic
of wise, urgent and moving pieces document an important time in
British Caribbean history, the emergence of our music, our culture,
our heroes and our political history. I loved it.
*Kit de Waal*
Flecked with passion; taut and reasoned . . . The grace and power
of LKJ's writing are as necessary as ever.
*The Observer*
Linton Kwesi Johnson is not just a master of the language but of
its various forms: lyric, poetry and prose. Incisive, engaging,
fearless, it is as much of a joy to read him as it is to hear
him.
*Gary Younge*
One of the greatest living poets of the counterculture . . . Braids
together the themes of his life.
*The Guardian*
An opportunity to understand Johnson as a thinker as well as a
cultural critic . . . every word is chosen with care.
*TLS*
A scandalously overdue volume.
*Paul Gilroy*
Extraorindary . . . If you want to know about the life, politics
and history behind Linton Kwesi Johnson's poetry and music, you
need this book.
*Wire*
Sheds light not only on LKJ's creative process but also his life
story.
*Financial Times*
A welcome collation of Linton Kwesi Johnson's writings, which
provide a thorough understanding of his commitment to poetry, music
and justice. I found the book inspirational - and was gladdened to
eavesdrop on formative exchanges from the author's childhood and
grateful to investigate avenues of culture, which were new to me. I
put down Time Come singing the tune of the boon of community.
*John Hegley*
A brilliant and welcome collection of musings from the fertile mind
of one of the world's great waymaking poets, philosophers and
activists.
*Lorna Goodison*
It doesn't matter how familiar you might be with LKJ's poetry, in
Time Come the essays and writings frame the verse; they give a
context which places the verse squarely within the culture and
observations that produced it. This is a genuinely deep dive into
the mind of one of Britain's most important poets.
*Lloyd Bradley*
Gathers the real-life reportage roots of the dub poetry that makes
LKJ our Bard of the Front Line, wherever it may be. His insights
unite Black and diverse Britain, the Afro-Diaspora and those who
dig it. Spare and deliberate, his dead-on prose critiques several
decades of music, poetry, theatre and literature . . . LKJ also
chronicles the social and political progress of post-colonial Black
Britons, building a culture and spaces of their own. Engagingly, he
shares his personal artistic development, deftly guiding arts
aspirants. A work of consistent commitment and courage.
*Vivien Goldman*
Once again we are playing catch up with the writing of Linton Kwesi
Johnson. From speeches to reviews, reggae to political commentary,
Linton always has an insightful perspective . . . something to
teach, something to tell, something to rebel against. A book to be
savoured and re read, spending time with Kwesi Johnson, one of our
greatest living poets, is always a privilege.
*Derek Owusu*
In Time Come, we learn how the sonic explosion in LKJ’s writing and
performances is rooted in his earliest impulses to question, learn,
experiment and create . . . His thoughtful prose shows what an
enduring legacy looks like, a tribute to his own fortitude but also
to the people and forces that have shaped his trajectory and
sensibility.
*Olive Senior*
We journey through this selection of prose with Linton Kwesi
Johnson's upbringing and landscape weaved within. Time Come is a
necessary book from a writer who continues to inspire generations
of Black voices. LKJ: a reggae poet on the mic, a craftsman on the
page, and a legacy in our hearts.
*Yomi Sode*
With this collected prose, we as readers are privy to over four
decades of learning, listening and doing. Like all deep teachers,
LKJ is patient, generous, profound and direct. This is a precious
collection, a bold and incisive counterweight to some of the most
important poetry written about the black experience in the UK and
beyond. Essential reading.
*Anthony Joseph*
From rebel music to praisesongs for the ancestors, LKJ’s vibrant
prose traverses the broad terrain of Black British culture and
beyond . . . LKJ’s prose, like his poetry, is a dread beat of
resistance against systemic racism, affirming the capacity of
Caribbean migrants to turn trauma into sustaining art.
*Carolyn Cooper*
A brilliant culmination of a life's worth of work.
*Caribbean Today*
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